ADHD is evaluated differently in children depending on the health professional they are seeing at the time. Many children are pass from Doctor to Doctor in nothing is getting done. Many of the children are being misunderstood by their parents and doctors.

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Sadly, many children who never seem to listen, have difficulty sitting still, or not follow instructions well, are often labelled as being undisciplined or lazy.

There are also children who seem to blurt out inappropriate comments at the most inappropriate times, and they are often labeled as troublemakers or criticized for their behavior. Quite often, their behavior is a clear indication that ADHD may be responsible.

Typically, those suffering with the disorder have a difficult time staunching their spontaneous responses. They may be abrupt in their speech, movement and attention level. Research shows that the symptoms and signs generally begin to appear before 7 years of age.

It is common for there to be difficulty distinguishing between what is considered normal child behavior and ADHD, as some children are definitely just rude and naughty. Some parents are also willing to lay blame on ADHD rather than their own parenting faults.

However, there are children who do need help regarding ADHD and a parental punishment won’t fix the situation. If symptoms appear to be present across all situations: during play, at school and at home, it may be time to investigate further.

Every child has their hyperactive moments, and it is normal to occasionally daydream during class, fidget at the dinner table or be forgetful on occasion. If you are noticing impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity on a frequent or consistent basis, these may certainly be signs of ADHD.

ADHD can greatly impact how well your child is able to learn and concentrate, as well as how they play or interact with others. Recognizing the symptoms and signs of ADHD can help you and your family adjust accordingly.

ADHD Symptoms

There are 3 main symptoms of ADHD:

1. Hyperactivity
2. Inattentiveness
3. Impulsivity

Not all children display all three symptoms. Those who present mainly with inattentive behavior may go undiagnosed longer as they typically spend time alone, daydream and not necessarily act out or cause problems with others.

Specific symptoms, which are subsets of the above broad symptoms, may include:

” inability to follow instructions
” constantly interrupting
” frequently touching things and zooming around from one area to another
” difficulty listening
” difficulty sitting still
” have a hard time focusing on tasks they feel are boring
” non-stop talking
” clashing with other kids regarding following the rules
” underperforming in school
” zoning out or spacing out
” daydreaming

Symptom Combinations of ADHD

It is important to note that children with ADHD may certainly be impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive, however, some children may be capable of paying attention, yet still be impulsive and hyperactive.

Other children may be inattentive, yet display no impulsivity or hyperactivity. So, there are combinations of symptoms. A diagnosis of ADHD does not require all symptoms to be present.

Common Myths Regarding ADHD in Children

There are many myths regarding ADHD and often diagnosed children get a bad reputation. Not every child with ADHD is hyperactive or a poor listener. Sometimes the disorder presents itself in an under active child who seems unmotivated, inattentive or ‘spacey’ and sits quietly alone.

Another myth is that children with ADHD could simply behave better if they wanted to or taught to, which is simply not the case.

Yet another common myth is that the child will eventually “grow out of it.” In fact, many symptoms of ADHD carry on into the teen years and adulthood.